Depression Throughout the Life Course

Abstract

Over the life course depression affects different groups of people in different ways. This chapter considers the ways that depression manifests in children, the prevalence of child depression, the challenges of assessing child populations, and the ways that depression can adversely affect development. As children move into adolescence, they are particularly susceptible to depression. The reasons for the spike in adolescent depression are explored, along with consideration of measures that might reduce the toll of adolescent depression. Beginning in adolescence and continuing throughout adulthood, depression is much more common among females than males. Biological, cognitive, and social explanations for this sex difference in depression are considered. Finally, late-life depression is considered, including ways that depression in older persons is distinct from, and similar to, depression at earlier life stages.